$330 for 4 plugs and a coil change?

[DaPurpleRT]

Hey guys,

Does that sound right from the dealership? The car suddenly began missing horribly so I had it towed in and this was the diagnosis (though the coil is apparently need on cylinder 3 while it was showing a cylinder 2 misfire). I see the parts would cost around $50 and the job looks very simple compared to my CTS. Maybe 30-minutes to an hour? So does about $300 an hour labor sound correct?

[Dad A3]

Oil change with filter at dealer$90.00
Can't speak about the coil pack.

[kdaffy]

ECS has the kit (coils and plugs) for $130, and i would imaging the dealer price is higher than that. Not sure what the book rate for the job is, but even if its an hour @ $150/hr, price seems about right.

You can probably source the parts cheaper online, and either DIY by searching for the instructions on here (not too difficult of a job), or find an independent to do it for 25-50% less than what the dealer is charging you.




P.S. Let me know where you see all this for $50 so i can stock up, and/or arbitrage and make some money

[DaPurpleRT]

That was for 4 plugs and 1 soil from Advance Auto. Not spending a ton as I'll be trading the car in the next few months or selling it. Just getting it what it needs.


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[DaPurpleRT]

Oh, also thy had the car for about 2 weeks last year due to the severe oil burning. When they replaced the rings and such do they really just stick the old spark plugs back in?


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[DaPurpleRT]

Dealership called. Despite the oil issue they put old plugs back in when they did the piston job....

Also, since I told them I wanted to just change the plugs and coil myself they called back and said it was $30 to turn off the service due soon light....

Wow, crossing Audi off the list of cars I am going to trade this one for shortly.


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[Canadianwraith]

Audi is no different than any other dealer you will talk to. Some will diagnose for free knowing there is a likelihood that they will service the problem. Essentially you are saying that you want them to tell you what the problem is for free so that it can be repaired elsewhere. $30 is a very small charge imo

[DaPurpleRT]

That's also the $80 deductible, not to mention me having to rent a car and take a day off to go fetch it

I wanted to drive the car out to avoid it, but they said I needed to have it towed...


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[shonseb]

Your issue sounds like a blown coil pack. I had the same problem on my A5, coil pack blew and misfiring all over the place. changing the coil pack should only run you about $20-30. The Plugs don't need to be replaced but it would be a good idea depending on how many miles you have. I'm surprised your dealer didn't replace the plugs when you had the car in for the oil consumption. It's a very easy job to do the coils and plugs. I see your in the middle of KY and your options for dealerships may be limited. I would suggest you invest in a Vag Com cable. With it and Audizine, you can diagnose pretty much anything that's going on. It can read you the codes as well as clear any you may have in the future. Since you have an A5, you should also look at the A4 forums since they share the same engine. Many issues that arise have likely been addressed at some point or another. Don't let these 2 experiences deter you from the brand. The oil consumption is a common issue that audi would correct for you if you had it. The coil pack is also a common issue every 40-50K miles. There was even a recall a few years ago, actually you should check with your dealer to see if your call falls under that recall in which case your coils should have all been replaced for free.

[osugsxr]

seems about right from looking at posts about the 35k mile service. Only difference is the coils though, I'd say do it yourself but if you're trading it in don't worry about it. I purchased 4 ngk plugs ones recommended by ngk & a cabin filter via amazon for $40.xx. Majority of my past cars recommended changing plugs at 85-100k miles. I love the a5, and I knew going into it service would be a tad higher but I wanted to do majority of the services on my own as a hobby.

[talkinghamster]

audi in canada is 70$ per coil... so 280$ for just four coils. and then you need spark plugs, and then you need to pay for labour.

i paid 330$ for four coils, four plugs and two quarts of oil (just to have). did the work myself as its very easy.

[DaPurpleRT]

Hey guys,

Update time. To clarify it was $330 to change 4 plugs and ONE coil only. They told me verbally and on the paper it needed new plugs and a coil on cylinder 3. It was strange though as the car was giving a P0302 code which should be cylinder 2 (oh quick question, the cylinder order is 1 to 4 front to back, correct?). Going off that I replaced all plugs and cylinder 2 CP. Ran fine for a night and morning then the roughness and the P0302 returned. Maybe I do need to swap out CP3 despite what the code says?


The CP for Cylinder 3 and its plug were covered in oil (NONE of them looked good). I asked the dealership if, after my 3 visits and $500+ investment for them to prove my car was using oil like an 84 Honda (a quart or so a week) and replacing pistons/rings if they replaced the plugs at all and they responded they stuck the old ones back in. I can't believe that a brand like Audi would be so incredibly cheap when fixing THEIR issue! I was astonished! The question is - is that oil all just left over from that issue (why didn't they clean them up?) or are they lying to me again hoping to somehow run the CPO warranty out (Fall)? I wouldn't put it past them a bit at this point.... Just a horrible ownership experience thus far a year and a half in.

Oh, and for those worried about the dealership not getting any money, they charged me $150 to check the plugs and give me this (seemingly) inaccurate diagnosis. Add in my rental car and gas/food (due to them wanting me to have it towed in versus letting me drive it) and parts I am in about $400-$500 now without any change...

[DaPurpleRT]

You fellas still out there?

[i1overice]

You fellas still out there?

If someone higher up at Audi doesn't want to help out, go above them.

Dunno what type of audi dealership doesn't give out loaners.

[DaPurpleRT]

The car after doing what the $150 dealership diagnosis said to do has added codes. At first it had P0300, P0301, P0302, and P0303 (versus just the 302 before). Now it is down to P0302 and P0300. Starting to think sometime is far more wrong than plugs and a coil and the Audi dealership is doing its usual to drain of money without having to do any warranty work.

Should I change the remaining coils just in case (Cylinder 2 is already new)?

[DaPurpleRT]

Think I'll try some fuel cleaner first. *shrug*

[osugsxr]

Might want to consider replacing all the coils with R8 coils, read good feedback from various members.

[DaPurpleRT]

UPDATE:

Had my friend who is an ASE Master Tech stop by to do a compression test and help me check everything out. Even replaced another coil, regapped plugs, and cleaned everything... And there was the problem. Two weeks after changing plugs they were all again, along with the CPs oil covered. As soon as he removed the first CP he said he knew the problem (the Audi dealership several hundred dollars and days later apparently could not determine it). He said the spark plug tube seals were leaking.

As the oil got into the plugs it was causing the missing experienced mostly at startup and running thereafter. We cleaned everything and sure enough it started and ran fine yesterday with no codes, but this morning, it was all back with a vengeance. FYI, we went ahead and did the compression test and it was fine.

Contacting the dealer now (140 miles away). After paying them nearly $150 directly it incorrectly diagnose plugs as the issue plus the several hundred on a rental, gas, not having my car for days, parts, etc I expect to not have to pay a dime in this matter and probably a refund would be in order as well. I can only suggest they have it hauled in, fix it, and have it hauled back. They could have avoided that by fixing the actual issue while it sat on their lot....

I am quite displeased at this point....